My favorite wine(s) of 2007*
* - Most of these wines were not released in 2007, I just happened to taste them last year.
In 2007, I tried over 150 different wines. Some of them were wonderful, some of them were total crap. Let’s focus on the good rather than the crap. Without further ado, here are my favorite wines of 2007 in no particular order; the ones with links mean I really liked those wines, or else their Web site was easy to locate:
- 2005 El Felino Malbec - For the money, this wine is terrific! This Paul Hobbs offering is a good deal, although it’s the product of a partnership in Argentina and not from Hobbs’ US-based vineyards.
- 2004 Magnotta Cabernt Franc Icewine - My favorite ice wine of 2007, this Cabernet Franc Icewine from Ontario is amazing.
- 1998 Balthasar Ress Spatlese Riesling - My favorite Riesling of 2007…one of the most perfect, subtly balanced wines I have ever had.
- 2006 Odisea Dream Albarino - I may have temporarily ended my Journey Membership for budget reasons, but I’ll really miss getting more of this wine…my favorite Albarino of 2007 and one of my favorite 2006 wines overall.
- 2006 Odisea Muse Rose - My other favorite Odisea wine, this one is amazing every year.
- 2004 Clearwater Creek Cabernet Sauvignon - Easily the best quality to price ratio of any new wine in 2007; terrific stuff, hard to find, quite the back story too…
- 2002 Reininger Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon - A great discovery! I didn’t like Washington Cabernet before I tried this wine. I like it now.
- 2004 Lachini “Ana” Vineyard Pinot Noir - Wonderful Oregon Pinot, better than the “S” in my estimation. More macho.
- Everything that Le Cadeau produces - All of their Pinot Noirs are outstanding!
- 2004 Williams Selyem Central Coast Pinot Noir - As I said in my original note, “This wine is good. Darn good.”
- 1998 Domaine Drouhin Laurene Pinot Noir - Starting to hit its stride in 2007; I can’t wait to try some in 2008.
- 2004 Sea Smoke Ten Pinot Noir - Worth it at $69. Worth it at $250? Not really, but maybe in 3 years?
- 2000 Betz Family “La Serenne” Syrah - Perhaps the luckiest find of 2007 for me; amazing stuff, worth tracking down.
- 1997 Argyle Extended Tirage Brut Sparkling Wine - Wine Spectator went gaga over this Oregon wine…I can see why.
So, what was my favorite wine of 2007? It’s a three-way tie…between three different Zinfandels. I know, I know, the heresy! But hear me out: These three Zins are totally amazing. Track them down, drink them, enjoy them, and then reconsider everything you know about American Zinfandel.
- 2003 Peter Franus Brandlin Vineyard Zinfandel
- 2005 Radio-Coteau Von Weidlich Russian River Valley Zinfandel
- 2004 Robert Biale Grande Vineyard Zinfandel
Taken together, these three wines would probably cause brain damage. Aesthetically speaking, they are all that good. I’d say the Peter Franus and Radio-Coteau are a bit more impressive than the Biale, but I did like the Biale enough to drink the whole damn bottle and then stumble into a citrus orchard after dark. Always the mark of a good wine when you start trying to grab lemons off someone else’s trees!